Variety of calla lily plant named &#39;Black Hero&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Black Hero’ is a new variety of  calla  lily plant having inflorescences with a dark purple-colored spathe that produces 4-15 inflorescences per tuber. The inflorescence stems are about 40 cm in height, and the leaves are dark green with whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/125,226, having a filing date of Jan. 15, 2015,and entitled “Varieties of Calla Lily Plants”, the entire disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Zantedeschia sprengeri

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘BLACK HERO’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Black Hero’.

‘Black Hero’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had theobjective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production ina wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breedingprogram began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected fromthe crossing of a Zantedeschia sprengeri selection referred to asZ020304 (female parent, unpatented) with Zantedeschia sprengeri ‘Odessa’(male parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,833). ‘Black Hero’ was selected in2007 by the inventor in 't Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Black Hero’ by tissue culturewas performed by the inventor in September of 2011 in 't Zand, TheNetherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at thesame location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristicsas herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproducedtrue to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in 14 cm pots in 't Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouseconditions, which approximate those generally used in horticulturalpractice. Color references are made to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticulture Society of London, except where general color termsof ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to bebasic characteristics of ‘Black Hero’ which, in combination, distinguishthis calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Dark purple-colored spathe; and

2. High inflorescence production.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Black Hero’ to itsparents, Zantedeschia sprengeri selection Z020304 and Zantedeschiasprengeri ‘Odessa’.

TABLE 1 ‘Black Hero’ Similarities Differences Z020304 White leaf spotsNumber of inflorescences Plant height Spathe shape ‘Odessa’ Leaf shapePlant height Number of inflorescences Spathe color Spathe shape Numberof white leaf spots

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a plant of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a group of multiple plants of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   The plant:    -   -   Size.—Height of the leaf canopy above the soil: 14-41 cm.            Height of top of inflorescence above the soil: 19-44 cm.            Diameter: 8-40 cm.        -   Form.—Erect.        -   Number of inflorescences per tuber.—Size 14-16 cm in            diameter: 4-8 inflorescences. Size 16-18 cm in diameter:            8-12 inflorescences. Size 18-20 cm in diameter: 8-15            inflorescences.        -   Branches.—Character: Many; like the variety ‘Odessa’. Color:            Yellow-Green Group 144A.        -   Leaves.—Size: Width: 2-8 cm. Length: 10-17 cm. Number per            plant: 17-44. Shape: Lanceolate. Color: Upper surface:            Yellow-Green Group RHS 147A to 147B. Lower surface:            Yellow-Green Group RHS 147A to 147B. Margin: Undulate;            having a color of Green Group RHS 137A to Yellow-Green Group            RHS 147B. Veins: Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Yellow-Green            Group RHS 147A. Surface quality: Leathery. Petiole: Length:            5-18 cm. Color: The base is White Group RHS 155A, and the            upper part is Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A.        -   Roots.—Color: White. Branching: Similar to other            Zantedeschia varieties.-   The inflorescence and seeds:    -   -   Spathe.—Size: Length (measured from opening to tip):            5-10 cm. Width: 3-6 cm. Height: 7-11 cm. Color: Upper            surface: Varies between Purple Group RHS 77A and            Greyed-Purple Group 187A. Lower surface: Varies between            Purple Group RHS 77A and Greyed-Purple Group 187A. Vein            color: Purple Group RHS 77A. Shape: Cupped.        -   Spadix.—Size: Length: 20-55 mm. Diameter: 5-12 mm. Color:            Greyed-Purple Group RHS 187A. Position relative to spathe:            Upright.        -   Peduncle.—Size: Length: 12-35 cm. Diameter: 5-7 mm. Color:            The upper part is Yellow-Green Group 144A, and the lower            part is Green-White Group RHS 157C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Location of female organs: Basal            position of the spadix. Location of male organs: Upper            position of the spadix. Perianth: Conspicuous. Stamens:            Presence: Not visible before pollen release. Number: More            than 20. Pollen amount: Similar to ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant            Pat. No. 15,282). Colour: Between White Group RHS 155A and            155B. Anther: Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color:            Greyed-Purple Group RHS 187A. Filament: Length: Less than            1 mm. Color: Between White Group RHS 155A and 155B. Pistils:            Number: 15 to 30. Length beyond perianth: About 1 mm.            Stigma: Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm. Style: Length:            Less than 1 mm. Color: Red-Purple Group RHS 59A. Ovaries:            Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width: Between            1 to 10 mm. Color: Top color is Yellow Group 4C, the bottom            color is from White Group RHS 155B to Green-White Group RHS            157C.        -   Seeds.—Length: 4-7 mm. Width: 3-6 mm. Colour: Between Purple            Group RHS N79B and N79D. Amount: Between 1-55.-   General:    -   -   Disease resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to diseases            noticed to date.        -   Pest resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed            to date.        -   Heat tolerance.—No heat tolerance.        -   Hardiness.—Not hardy.        -   Flowering.—Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands            in February produce inflorescences in April. Tubers planted            outdoors in The Netherlands in May produce inflorescences in            July.        -   Lastingness.—About two weeks on the plant.        -   Fragrance.—None.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘BlackHero’ as herein described and illustrated.